Dawn Brooks

Dawn earned her EdD in Educational Leadership, Teachers College, Columbia University, M.S. in Fine Art Education, Queens College; B.S. in Education, St. John’s University.  Dawn began her service of teaching 27 years ago and has worked as a teacher for the NYC DOE teaching in Harlem, NYC for 16 years and has served as Principal of Thurgood Marshall Academy Lower School (TMALS) for 11 years. She is currently the Deputy Superintendent of NYC Community School District 5. 

Dawn’s research is entitled, “Black Principal Perspectives on SEL and CRSL in Urban Schools: The Role of Beliefs, Values and Leadership Practices.  Dawn has received numerous awards and recognitions for her work such as Teacher of the Year 1998, Heroes of Education Award 2002 for her work with students involving the 9/11 tragedy (highlighted in CNN’s, “Through a Child’s Eyes”), and Outstanding Educator 2002. She is a 2015 Marvin Mauer Spotlight Award winner through her work with Yale Institute and the RULER Approach for Emotional Intelligence and a 2020 Lois Mailou Jones Art Education Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.  Dawn is married, has 4 children and 4 grandchildren.